| Author |
Message |
Robin E. Snyder
Senior Member
Username: robin
Post Number: 608
Registered: 08-2004
| | Posted on Friday, June 12, 2015 - 07:00 pm: |    |
Anyone familiar with this process? In particular, OPACI-Coat 300, for spandrel glass. Pros? Cons? |
Liz O'Sullivan
Senior Member
Username: liz_osullivan
Post Number: 187
Registered: 10-2011
| | Posted on Saturday, June 13, 2015 - 12:36 am: | |
My understanding is that silicone is less expensive and less durable than ceramic frit. (Silicone is more likely to get damaged.) There are some compatibility issues with installation materials that silicones have but ceramic frit doesn't. And sometimes the edge of the glass has to be stripped of the silicone coating for different installations, an extra step and extra money, whereas ceramic doesn't need that. |
Steven Bruneel, AIA, CSI-CDT, LEED-AP, EDAC
Senior Member
Username: redseca2
Post Number: 490
Registered: 12-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, June 13, 2015 - 01:44 am: | |
My understanding tracks with what Liz posted.
I have a project right now where we (Architects) are in a Design-Build relationship with the GC and the glazing sub is in a Design-Assist relationship. A trade off has been Opaci-Coat and you can have your custom color versus a catalog frit.
June 12, 2025 if I am still here I will give you a post-occupancy evaluation. |
J. Peter Jordan
Senior Member
Username: jpjordan
Post Number: 846
Registered: 05-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, June 13, 2015 - 07:49 am: | |
I was shot gunned into specifying this for a project in Houston. I felt like the primary advantage was the type and range of colors available. The main drawback was the location of the fabricator which compounds lead time issues. Flat glass had to be shipped from the manufacturer to the Opacicoat people in the northwest and then to a fabricator to make the insulating glazing unit. Just getting samples was a chore (not helped by the architect's delaying color selection). I would think that cost will be affected by shipping costs in certain parts of the country.
If you have an IGU that includes a tinted lite with a low-e coating, the visual quality of the coating will be affected. |
Liz O'Sullivan
Senior Member
Username: liz_osullivan
Post Number: 188
Registered: 10-2011
| | Posted on Saturday, June 13, 2015 - 11:39 am: | |
Robin, I know Oldcastle Building Envelope can apply it, and I've seen them applying it or some other silicone in their glazing plant in Denver. It never occurred to me that fabrication location would be a problem. |
Bill Coady CSI, CCPR
Senior Member
Username: billcoady
Post Number: 19
Registered: 06-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, June 13, 2015 - 03:14 pm: | |
Opaci-Coat is the brand name from ICD Coatings http://www.icdcoatings.com for one of their silicone based finishes for glass. There are at least two ceramic paint manufacturers that produce ceramic paint used for frit on architectural glass in North America. They are Ferro http://www.ferro.com and Glass Coatings and Concepts http://gcconcepts.com/.
Both types (ceramic frit or silicone paint) are applied to the glass by glass fabricators across North America including Oldcastle as has been mentioned.
In my experience there are appropriate applications for both types of products. Before throwing either product type under the bus, I suggest reaching out to trusted glazing sub-contractors in your area and also to trusted glass fabricators in your area to have a discussion about when and where it makes sense to use these products. Another would to also discuss the products with the manufacturers.
The questions and comments in this thread don't surprise me. In my role as an Architectural Design Manager for Guardian in the Pacific NW and Western Canada I find that the entire subject of spandral glass and the various opacifier materials is misunderstood or incompletely understood. |
Robin E. Snyder
Senior Member
Username: robin
Post Number: 609
Registered: 08-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, June 14, 2015 - 01:12 am: | |
Bill: Can you please list some examples of when each type would be appropriate? Or, explain a bit more about the various opacifier materials to help educate me/us? |
Bill Coady CSI, CCPR
Senior Member
Username: billcoady
Post Number: 21
Registered: 06-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, June 14, 2015 - 03:00 pm: | |
Robin, I would prefer to take this discussion off line. I don't sell either type so I wouldn't be violating the general rule of "no selling" in this discussion forum but I have a few questions I'd like to ask about your specific application and think it would be better to remove that discussion from this forum. Give me a call at 425-823-6514 (office- Seattle area Pacific Daylight Time) or send me your contact info and I'll call you bcoady@guardian.com |
Richard L Matteo, AIA, CSI, CCS
Senior Member
Username: rlmat
Post Number: 671
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, June 14, 2015 - 10:40 pm: | |
I first encountered Opcicoat about 13 years ago when I first came to CA. The firm was using it almost exclusively at that time. By the time I left 9 years later, we were only specifying ceramic frit. I plan to do the same in my current position.
Liz and Steven are on track. the coating is very soft and since it is applied to the #4 surface, it is subject to damage, it requires some type of protection.
Color may be a consideration if using clear glass on the outer light, however, if using tinted glass both the silicone coating and the ceramic frit would be a warm/light grey color to avoid altering the appearance or making the spandrel panel appear darker.. |
Greta Eckhardt
Senior Member
Username: gretaeckhardt
Post Number: 10
Registered: 08-2013
| | Posted on Monday, June 15, 2015 - 10:56 am: | |
Although I have not typically specified the silicone product, we almost always detail an insulated backpan behind the spandrel glass, which could help to avoid issues from damage and light leakage. |
4specs.com Home Page